Verbena plant named ‘RIKA1832M3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘RIKA1832M3’, characterized by its outwardly spreading to mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; relatively large white-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ).

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKA1832M3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘RIKA1832M3’.

The new Verbena plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofVerbena hybrida ‘RIKA18302M’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,640.The new Verbena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on asingle flowering plant from within a population of plants of‘RIKA18302M’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif.on May 18, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 24,2016, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘RIKA1832M3’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘RIKA1832M3’ as a new and distinct Verbenaplant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading to mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Relatively large white-colored flowers that are held above        and beyond the foliar plane.    -   7. Relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the mutationparent, ‘RIKA18302M’. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily fromplants of ‘RIKA18302M’ in flower color as plants of ‘RIKA18302M’ havelight violet blue and white bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘AKIV572-1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. number 23,050. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘AKIV572-1’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of        ‘AKIV572-1’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of        ‘AKIV572-1’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘AKIV572-1’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘AKIV572-1’ have light lavender-colored        flowers.    -   4. Plants of the new Verbena are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew        than plants of ‘AKIV572-1’.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenahybrida ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of‘Vepita Lavender Ice’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew        than plants of ‘Vepita Lavender Ice’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Verbena plant. The photograph at the bottom of thesheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘RIKA1832M3’ grown in a container. The photograph at the top of thesheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKA1832M3’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 10-cmcontainers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and undercultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘RIKA1832M3’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Verbena hybrida    ‘RIKA18302M’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat No. 29,640.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at            temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to mounding            plant habit; freely branching habit with about nine primary            lateral branches each with about four to six secondary            lateral branches developing per plant; pinching is not            required; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 13.5            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 32 cm by 46 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—Variable, about 26 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to            turning upright distally.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 146C.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltoid, elongated.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Hirsute;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 147C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers            arranged in upright hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers            face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about            30 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more            than 1,000 flowers developing per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring until frost in Michigan; early flowering habit,            plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Pubescent,            minute; matte. Color: Close to 155D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.2 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 3 cm.        -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 2 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals            fused towards the base into a slender narrow tube. Petal            lobe length: About 1.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.1 cm.            Petal lobe shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex:            Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire; moderately undulate.        -   Petal texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            matte.        -   Petal texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, minute;            matte.        -   Throat texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.        -   Tube texture and luster.—Scattered pubescence, minute;            slightly glossy. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:            Close to NN155A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close            to NN155D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            NN155D; towards the throat, tinted with close to 151D;            venation, close to NN155D; color does not change with            development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to            NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color does not change            with development. Throat: Close to 145C; venation, close to            145C. Tube: Close to 160D; venation, close to 160D.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused            towards the base into a slender tube. Length: About 1.6 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Sepal length: About 1.4 cm. Sepal            width: Less than 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly lanceolate.            Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and            luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Sepal texture and luster, outer surface: Pubescence, minute;            matte. Sepal color, when opening, upper surface: Close to            147B. Sepal color, when opening, lower surface: Close to            148C. Sepal color, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            147B. Sepal color, fully opened, lower surface: Close to            146B to 146C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:            Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four            per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube.            Filament length: About 1.4 cm. Filament color: Close to            145D. Anther shape: Round. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 151D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 151D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Style            length: About 2 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color:            Close to 144B. Fruits and seeds: To date, fruit and seed            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Verbena.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 40° C. and are    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8a to 11b.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been    observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera    xanthii). To date, plants of the new Verbena have not been observed    to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Verbena    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘RIKA1832M3’ as illustrated and described. 